Teamsters 727 Preserves Jobs, Wages and Benefits at One Parking During Stay at Home Order

While much of the world wages the battle against COVID-19 by “sheltering in place”, Teamsters Local 727 has continued to fight to preserve the full wages and benefits which are guaranteed to members under their collective bargaining agreements. We are proud to report that as a result of 727’s persistence and demands, One Parking has come through for the thirty-five Local 727 members that they employ – men and women who are valuable employees at some of the most prestigious buildings in downtown Chicago.

 

When fallout from the coronavirus crisis began to impact membership, Local 727 Business Representatives reached out to each company it has a collective bargaining agreement with and sent an extensive information request and demanded that employers protect bargaining unit members. Sadly, many companies responded by unlawfully furloughing employees or reducing contractually guaranteed hours, in violation of contracts and the law, but One Parking did not. Instead, One Parking did the right thing and honored their contract and legal obligations during the pandemic. One Parking confirmed that their employees would continue to receive full paychecks and benefit contributions while they applied for government assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

 

Recently, One Parking let the Union know that it was approved for funding under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP, signed into law along with the CARES Act on March 27th, was created to incentivize businesses to keep their entire workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participation in this program ensures that each qualifying company will receive up to eight weeks of payroll assistance in the form of a federal loan that must exclusively be used for purposes permitted under the Act. In order for the loan to be completely forgiven, One Parking must only use the money for the permitted purposes, maintain its normal staffing levels and regular wages (based on the previous one-year period), and use at least 75% of the funds for payroll costs.

 

This comes as a great relief to all of the Local 727 members who work as hikers at One Parking locations which include buildings such as: The Franklin Center (227 West Monroe), CME Center (30 South Wacker Drive), and 120 North Lasalle (Central Business District). One Parking manages more than 80,000 parking spots in locations which include surface lots, mixed-use centers and office towers, and iconic residential buildings in some of the world’s largest cities.

 

Teamsters Local 727 commends One Parking for honoring its employees and contractual obligations during these hard times. “With all of the various financial programs being offered by federal and local governments to address employment issues created because of the pandemic, it is shocking that all parking companies aren’t stepping up like One Parking and doing what is best for the employees that they rely on to represent their company each and every day. One Parking has showed that, unlike many of the other parking companies, they actually care about the well-being of their employees” said John Coli, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.
Members at One Parking will begin to receive their first paychecks under the PPP on Friday, May 1st. One Parking has informed the Union that for the next eight weeks, payroll will be processed on a weekly instead of bi-weekly basis in order to better manage the disbursement of funding. Full benefit contributions to members’ pensions, healthcare, and the Legal and Educational Assistance Program will continue during this eight-week period as well. The Union will continue to remain in communication with One Parking to ensure that they continue to make decisions that put our members first.

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Business Representative David Glass at (847) 696-7500.

Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

Category: PARKING